Emotional Side Effects of Having Childhood Obesity

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Childhood obesity is a serious medical condition that can affect children and teenagers. It is diagnosed when a child is above the normal weight for his or her age and height. Obesity is “one of the most stigmatizing and least socially acceptable conditions in childhood” ("Childhood Obesity: Emotional Effects And Sedentary Lifestyles | Mollen Foundation Preventing Childhood Obesity"). Childhood obesity is really dangerous because all the extra pounds often start children on the path to bad health problems. Childhood obesity is becoming more and more common as the years go by. The physical health issues of being obese are bad enough for the child, but what about the emotional toll of being obese? Most obese children have to deal with more than just losing their excess weight. Having childhood obesity can lead to having depression, a low self-esteem, and social stigmatization. The emotional toll of having childhood obesity is very damaging on a child's life.
Depression is one emotional side effect of having childhood obesity. One in three American children are overweight or obese (Allen). Reports of childhood depression have also increased and the two issues are usually related to one another (Allen). Eric Storch says that people we interact with has a lot to do with who we are and how we act (Allen). So, this means that if you are always hearing about how fat or disgusting you are from all your classmates than this can contribute to depression. When a child is depressed they may lose interest in normal activities, sleep more, and/or cry a lot (Mayo Clinic Staff). This may even make the weight gain speed up. With all the rejection in an overweight child's life, he or she may feel as though he doe...

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...an be detrimental to their adulthood development.
The emotional toll of having childhood obesity is damaging to a child's life. Unfortunately, obesity, while being among the easiest medical conditions to recognize, is one of the most difficult to treat ("Childhood Obesity: The Effects on Physical and Mental Health | AboutOurKids.org"). The effects of childhood obesity have a long-term impact on an individual’s life in childhood, teenage years and they can even continue into adulthood ("Childhood Obesity: Emotional Effects And Sedentary Lifestyles | Mollen Foundation Preventing Childhood Obesity"). There are many ways to prevent a child from becoming obese, like healthy eating and physical activity ("Childhood Obesity - DASH/HealthyYouth"). In conclusion, childhood obesity causes depression, poor self-image, low self-esteem, and social stigmatization.

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